Journalist escapes Libyan prison after months in captivity

New
York, August 24,
2011--The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the news that U.S. journalist Matthew VanDyke escaped with
several inmates from Abu Salim prison in Tripoli
today. VanDyke's mother told CPJ that he called her with the news of his escape
and that he is safe and in good spirits. He also told his mother that he had
been kept in solitary confinement for much of his imprisonment. It was not
clear whether the prison was now controlled by rebels.

"We are relieved that Matthew VanDyke's five-month ordeal is
over," said CPJ Deputy Director Robert Mahoney. "We hope that all journalists
detained since the current uprising began are released immediately."

VanDyke had been missing
in Libya
since March 13 and was believed to have been captured in mid-March by forces
loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi, his mother told CPJ. On August 10, the
Libyan government finally admitted
to having him in custody but would not provide any information on his
whereabouts.